Alex girls' hockey: Rally falls short against Bemidji

• Finley

Rachael Finley skated the puck away from opponents during girls' hockey action earlier this season. Finley notched an assist in Alexandria's game with Bemidji on Saturday.

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Down by five, the Cardinal girls’ hockey team put on an offensive show in the third period, scoring four straight goals – three on power plays – but came up short as they fell to Bemidji 6-4 on the road Saturday.

Alexandria allowed the Lumberjacks to post four first-period goals – two on power plays – to jump out 4-0, then increased their lead to 5-0 as they scored the only goal of the second period.

But the third period belonged to Alexandria.

Rough play meant trouble for the Lumberjacks, and the Cards capitalized on their opportunities.

“Mady Houska opened the scoring by knocking in a loose puck off shots by Shelby Iverson and Becca Illies,” said head coach Andy Shriver, “and then Rachael Finley won a faceoff to Heather Hvezda, who one-timed it to score the second goal two seconds into the power play and only 45 seconds after Mady got things started.”

The third goal of the period came on another power play opportunity.

“Houska cut across the slot and shot behind the moving goalie, making the most out of a nice feed from Shaneé Herd, who got it from Brooke Aaberg.

“The Cards, now fully in control, but still behind, kept tightening the screws as Taylor Ellingson scored on assists from Iverson and Illies with just under two minutes to play.

“What had started as a Gilligan’s Island-type three-hour tour to Bemidji was suddenly one of the greatest games of the season,” said Shriver.

Needing to make the most of their momentum, the Cardinals pulled their goalie.

“[The Cards] had some heart-leaping opportunities that just didn’t quite go,” said Shriver. “Some pandemonium, a little chaos and an unfortunate broken stick led to the Lumberjacks scoring an empty-netter with seven seconds left to make the score 6-4.”

Alexandria saw Stephanie Drown and Bailey Serum share goalie duties, making a total of 25 saves for the game.

Alexandria will close out the CLC schedule tomorrow, Thursday, when they host the St. Cloud Icebreakers in a game that will decide second place in the conference.

The Cards then end their regular season next Thursday against Moorhead at home for Senior Night.

GAME STATISTICS

ALEXANDRIA 0 0 4 — 4

BEMIDJI 4 1 1 — 6

FIRST PERIOD

BEM – Allie Heifort, pp (Karleigh Wolkerstorfer) 5:22, BEM – Karleigh Wolkerstorfer (Dondelinger, Isaacson) 9:58, BEM – Francesca Huerd, pp (Karleigh Wolkerstorfer) 10:51, BHS – Allie Heifort, pp (Wolkerstorfer) 16:58.

SECOND PERIOD

BEM – Francesca Huerd (Olson) 9:01.

THIRD PERIOD

ALEX – Madison Houska, pp (Shelby Iverson, Becca Illies) 1:10, ALEX – Heather Hvezda. pp (Rachael Finley) 1:55, ALEX – Madison Houska, pp (Shaneé Herd, Brooke Aaberg) 8:13, ALEX – Taylor Ellingson (Houska, Illies) 15:09, BEM – Karleigh Wolkerstorfer (Olson) 16:53.

SHOTS ON GOAL – Alexandria 5-7-17—29, Bemidji 10-7-7—24.

SAVES – Stephanie Drown, Alex and Bailey Serum, Alex, 25; Leighton Rockensock, Bem, 25.

Follow #AlexMN @EchoPress Sports Editor Lori Mork on Twitter at @morkwriter.

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, cardinal, girls, hockey